Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Native Plant Communities

Summary

Where will sea level rise threaten native coastal plants and cultural assets? This project uses projections of sea‐level rise and coastal inundation to assess the vulnerability of native plant communities and associated cultural sites in the Main Hawaiian Islands this century. Native shoreline communities will be identified, characterized, and classified with regard to their potential exposure to sea level rise. Passive inundation models will be modified where appropriate to approximate wave‐driven impacts. Cultural sites within delineated areas will be identified and the risks to them estimated.